1. Ahmad SF, Ansari MA, Nadeem A, Bakheet SA, Al-Ayadhi LY, Attia SM. {{Elevated IL-16 expression is associated with development of immune dysfunction in children with autism}}. {Psychopharmacology}. 2018.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in communication skills and social behaviors. Several studies have suggested that neuroimmune dysfunction plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of ASD; however, its exact etiology is unknown. Interleukin-16 (IL-16), a chemoattractant, is associated with various inflammatory processes. However, its role in children with ASD is unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether IL-16 expression is associated with immune dysfunction in children with ASD. We examined IL-16 expression in CD4(+), CD8(+), CD14(+), CCR3(+), and CXCR7(+) cells in typically developing (TD) controls and children with ASD using flow cytometry in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). We also investigated the expression of IL-1beta(+)IL-16(+), IL-6(+)IL-16(+), and TNF-alpha(+)IL-16(+) in TD controls and children with ASD. We further explored IL-16 mRNA and protein expression using RT-PCR and western blotting. CD4(+)IL-16(+), CD8(+)IL-16(+), CD14(+)IL-16(+), CCR3(+)IL-16(+), and CXCR7(+)IL-16(+) cells increased significantly in children with ASD compared with TD controls. We also showed that expression of IL-1beta(+)IL-16(+), IL-6(+)IL-16(+), and TNF-alpha(+)IL-16(+) was elevated in children with ASD compared with TD controls. Moreover, IL-16 mRNA and protein expression was significantly induced in children with ASD compared with TD controls. These results suggest that IL-16 expression could play an essential role in immune alteration in children with ASD.
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2. Al Backer NB, Jaafar M, Habibullah H, Bashir S. {{The Relationship between Sleep and Cognitive Performance in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A Pilot Study}}. {Children (Basel, Switzerland)}. 2018; 5(11).
BACKGROUND: Sleep concerns are common in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The impact of poor sleep on cognitive performance in ASD children is not well-established. We investigated the possible correlation between sleep quality in ASD children and cognitive performance. The Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) was administered to examine specific components of non-verbal cognition. METHODS: The Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) and actigraphy-measured data from 18 children with diagnosis of ASD were evaluated. Motor planning task (MOT), simple reaction time task (SRT) and the intradimensional/extradimensional shift (IED) of CANTAB were administered. RESULTS: ASD good sleeper (ASD-GS) showed significant better response time for SRT task as compared to ASD poor sleeper (ASD-PS) based on CSHQ score. Parameters of bedtime resistance (r = 0.531, p = 0.023), sleep anxiety (r = 0.474, p = 0.047) from CSHQ and actigrapgy dependent (wake after sleep onset (WASO) (r = 0.430, p = 0.024) were significantly correlate with response time of SRT task. CONCLUSION: We conclude that some signs reflecting the presence of poor sleep in ASD correlate with various aspects of motor output on non-verbal performance tasks. The question is raised whether poor sleep in non-complaining persons with autism should be treated.
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3. Barber C. {{Working with a patient with an autism spectrum condition}}. {British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing)}. 2018; 27(21): 1232.
Chris Barber, Visiting Lecturer (Learning Disabilities), Birmingham City University ( chris.barber@bcu.ac.uk ), offers tips for nurses working with adults with autism spectrum conditions.
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4. Bekhet AK, Garnier-Villarreal M. {{Depression, positive thinking, personal and social resourcefulness among caregivers of persons with autism spectrum disorders}}. {Archives of psychiatric nursing}. 2018; 32(6): 823-7.
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5. Cage E, Di Monaco J, Newell V. {{Understanding, attitudes and dehumanisation towards autistic people}}. {Autism : the international journal of research and practice}. 2018: 1362361318811290.
Research suggests that while individuals may self-report positive attitudes towards autism, dehumanising attitudes (seeing another as less than human) may still prevail. This study investigated knowledge, openness and dehumanising attitudes of non-autistic people towards autistic people. A total of 361 participants completed a survey measuring autism openness, knowledge and experience, along with a measure of dehumanisation. Results showed that knowledge of autism was comparable to past research and females were more open towards autism. Findings also indicated evidence for dehumanisation, with a particular denial of ‘human uniqueness’ traits. Furthermore, dehumanisation was related to openness towards autism. These findings have implications for targeting attitudes to reduce stigma associated with autism.
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6. Gonzalez-Barrero AM, Nadig A. {{Bilingual children with autism spectrum disorders: The impact of amount of language exposure on vocabulary and morphological skills at school age}}. {Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research}. 2018.
Studies of bilingual children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have focused on early language development using parent report measures. However, the effect of bilingual exposure on more complex linguistic abilities is unknown. In the current study, we examined the impact of amount of language exposure on vocabulary and morphological skills in school-aged children with ASD who did not have intellectual disability. Forty-seven typically developing children and 30 children with ASD with varying exposure to French participated in the study. We investigated the impact of amount of language exposure, nonverbal IQ, age, and working memory on language abilities via regression analyses. Current amount of language exposure was the strongest predictor of both vocabulary skills (accounting for 62% of the variance) and morphological skills (accounting for 49% of the variance), for both typically-developing children and children with ASD. These findings highlight the central role amount of language exposure plays in vocabulary and morphological development for children with ASD, as it does for typically-developing children. In addition, they provide further evidence that, when provided with adequate language exposure, many children with ASD are capable of acquiring two languages. LAY SUMMARY: We studied typically developing children and children with ASD living in a bilingual society who had varying exposure to French (ranging from bilinguals to monolinguals). We investigated the impact of amount of language exposure, nonverbal IQ, age, and working memory on their vocabulary and morphological skills. Current amount of language exposure was the strongest predictor of language skills in both groups of children. Findings indicate that when provided with adequate language exposure, many children with ASD are capable of acquiring two languages. Autism Research 2018. (c) 2018 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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7. Khalifeh S, Yassin W, Kourtian S, Boustany RM. {{AUTISM IN REVIEW}}. {Le Journal medical libanais The Lebanese medical journal}. 2016; 64(2): 110-5.
Autism spectrum disorders are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired verbal and/or nonverbal communication in addition to repeti- tive stereotypical behaviors. We present a review article on this topic. Criteria for diagnosis are defined by the Diagnos- tic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM 5). Abnormalities at the level of synapses, including newly described genetic perturbations, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of autism. Non-invasive modalities like Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging have identi- fied white matter tract involvemeht in the brains of autistic in- dividuals. Early and intensive intervention impact prognosis. Risperidone and aripiprazole are FDA approved for irritability in autism although no known medication relieves core symp- toms of social and communication impairment. Fluoxetine is used to decrease anxiety in autistic patients.
8. Leo M, Carcagni P, Distante C, Spagnolo P, Mazzeo PL, Rosato AC, Petrocchi S, Pellegrino C, Levante A, De Lume F, Lecciso F. {{Computational Assessment of Facial Expression Production in ASD Children}}. {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)}. 2018; 18(11).
In this paper, a computational approach is proposed and put into practice to assess the capability of children having had diagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) to produce facial expressions. The proposed approach is based on computer vision components working on sequence of images acquired by an off-the-shelf camera in unconstrained conditions. Action unit intensities are estimated by analyzing local appearance and then both temporal and geometrical relationships, learned by Convolutional Neural Networks, are exploited to regularize gathered estimates. To cope with stereotyped movements and to highlight even subtle voluntary movements of facial muscles, a personalized and contextual statistical modeling of non-emotional face is formulated and used as a reference. Experimental results demonstrate how the proposed pipeline can improve the analysis of facial expressions produced by ASD children. A comparison of system’s outputs with the evaluations performed by psychologists, on the same group of ASD children, makes evident how the performed quantitative analysis of children’s abilities helps to go beyond the traditional qualitative ASD assessment/diagnosis protocols, whose outcomes are affected by human limitations in observing and understanding multi-cues behaviors such as facial expressions.
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9. Lim YH, Lee HC, Falkmer T, Allison GT, Tan T, Lee WL, Morris SL. {{Effect of Optic Flow on Postural Control in Children and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {Neuroscience}. 2018; 393: 138-49.
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been associated with sensorimotor difficulties, commonly presented by poor postural control. Postural control is necessary for all motor behaviors. However, findings concerning the effect of visual motion on postural control and the age progression of postural control in individuals with ASD are inconsistent. The aims of the present study were to examine postural responses to optic flow in children and adults with and without ASD, postural responses to optic flow in the central and peripheral visual fields, and the changes in postural responses between the child and adult groups. Thirty-three children (8-12years old) and 33 adults (18-50years old) with and without ASD were assessed on quiet standing for 60seconds under conditions of varying optic flow illusions, consisting of different combinations of optic flow directions and visual field display. The results showed that postural responses to most optic flow conditions were comparable between children with and without ASD and between adults with and without ASD. However, adults with ASD appeared more responsive to forward-moving optic flow in the peripheral visual field compared with typically developed adults. The findings suggest that children and adults with ASD may not display maladaptive postural responses all the time. In addition, adults in the ASD group may have difficulties prioritizing visual information in the central visual field over visual information in the peripheral visual field when in unfamiliar environments, which may have implications in understanding their motor behaviors in new surroundings.
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10. Muglia P, Filosi M, Da Ros L, Kam-Thong T, Nardocci F, Trabetti E, Ratti E, Rizzini P, Zuddas A, Bernardina BD, Domenici E. {{The Italian autism network (ITAN): a resource for molecular genetics and biomarker investigations}}. {BMC psychiatry}. 2018; 18(1): 369.
BACKGROUND: A substantial genetic component accounts for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) aetiology, with some rare and common genetic risk factors recently identified. Large collections of DNAs from thoroughly characterized ASD families are an essential step to confirm genetic risk factors, identify new variants and investigate genotype-phenotype correlations. The Italian Autism Network aimed at constituting a clinical database and a biorepository of samples derived from ASD subjects and first-degree relatives extensively and consistently characterized by child psychiatry centers in Italy. METHODS: The study was approved by the ethical committee of the University of Verona, the coordinating site, and by the local ethical committees of each recruiting site. Certified staff was specifically trained at each site for the overall study conduct, for clinical protocol administration and handling of biological material. A centralized database was developed to collect clinical assessment and medical records from each recruiting site. Children were eligible for recruitment based on the following inclusion criteria: age 4-18 years, at least one parent or legal guardian giving voluntary written consent, meeting DSM-IV criteria for Autistic Disorder or Asperger’s Disorder or Pervasive Developmental Disorder NOS. Affected individuals were assessed by full psychiatric, neurological and physical examination, evaluation with ADI-R and ADOS scales, cognitive assessment with Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children or Preschool and Primary, Leiter International Performance Scale or Griffiths Mental Developmental Scale. Additional evaluations included language assessment, the Krug Asperger’s Disorder Index, and instrumental examination such as EEG and structural MRI. DNA, RNA and plasma were collected from eligible individuals and relatives. A central laboratory was established to host the biorepository, perform DNA and RNA extraction and lymphocytes immortalisation. DISCUSSION: The study has led to an extensive collection of biological samples associated with standardised clinical assessments from a network of expert clinicians and psychologists. Eighteen sites have received ADI/ADOS training, thirteen of which have been actively recruiting. The clinical database currently includes information on 812 individuals from 249 families, and the biorepository has samples for 98% of the subjects. This effort has generated a highly valuable resource for conducting clinical and genetic research of ASD, amenable to further expansion.
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11. Nilsson Jobs E, Bolte S, Falck-Ytter T. {{Spotting Signs of Autism in 3-Year-Olds: Comparing Information from Parents and Preschool Staff}}. {Journal of autism and developmental disorders}. 2018.
Preschool informants may provide valuable information about symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in young children. We compared the diagnostic accuracy of ratings by preschool staff with those by parents of 3-year-old children using the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment Preschool Forms. The sample consisted of 32 children at familial risk for ASD without diagnosis, 10 children at risk for ASD with diagnosis, and 14 low-risk typically developing controls. Preschool staff ratings were more accurate than parent ratings at differentiating children with and without ASD, and more closely associated with clinician-rated symptoms. These results point to the value of information from preschool informants in early detection and diagnostic assessments.
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12. Renthal W, Boxer LD, Hrvatin S, Li E, Silberfeld A, Nagy MA, Griffith EC, Vierbuchen T, Greenberg ME. {{Characterization of human mosaic Rett syndrome brain tissue by single-nucleus RNA sequencing}}. {Nature neuroscience}. 2018.
In females with X-linked genetic disorders, wild-type and mutant cells coexist within brain tissue because of X-chromosome inactivation, posing challenges for interpreting the effects of X-linked mutant alleles on gene expression. We present a single-nucleus RNA sequencing approach that resolves mosaicism by using single-nucleotide polymorphisms in genes expressed in cis with the X-linked mutation to determine which nuclei express the mutant allele even when the mutant gene is not detected. This approach enables gene expression comparisons between mutant and wild-type cells within the same individual, eliminating variability introduced by comparisons to controls with different genetic backgrounds. We apply this approach to mosaic female mouse models and humans with Rett syndrome, an X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding the methyl-DNA-binding protein MECP2, and observe that cell-type-specific DNA methylation predicts the degree of gene upregulation in MECP2-mutant neurons. This approach can be broadly applied to study gene expression in mosaic X-linked disorders.
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13. Schalbroeck R, Termorshuizen F, Visser E, van Amelsvoort T, Selten JP. {{Risk of non-affective psychotic disorder or bipolar disorder in autism spectrum disorder: a longitudinal register-based study in the Netherlands}}. {Psychological medicine}. 2018: 1-8.
BACKGROUND: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) appear to be at increased risk of non-affective psychotic disorder (NAPD) and bipolar disorder (BD). However, most previous studies examined the co-occurrence of ASD and NAPD or BD, ignoring possible diagnostic bias and selection bias. We used longitudinal data from Dutch psychiatric case registers to assess the risk of NAPD or BD among individuals with ASD, and compared the results to those obtained for the Dutch population in earlier studies. METHODS: Individuals with ASD (n = 17 234) were followed up between 16 and 35 years of age. Kaplan-Meier estimates were used to calculate the risk of NAPD or BD. We conducted separate analyses to reduce possible bias, including an analysis among individuals diagnosed with ASD before age 16 years (n = 8337). RESULTS: Of the individuals with ASD, 23.50% (95% confidence interval 21.87-25.22) were diagnosed with NAPD and 3.79% (3.06-4.69) with BD before age 35 years. The corresponding figures for the general population were 0.91% (0.63-1.28) and 0.13% (0.08-0.20). Risk estimates were substantially lower, but still higher than general population estimates, when we restricted our analyses to individuals diagnosed with ASD before age 16, with 1.87% (1.33-2.61) being diagnosed with NAPD and 0.57% (0.21-1.53) with BD before age 25 years. The corresponding figures for the general population were 0.63% (0.44-0.86) and 0.08% (0.05-0.12). CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with ASD are at increased risk of NAPD or BD. This is likely not the result of diagnostic or selection bias.
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14. Sotoodeh MS, Taheri-Torbati H, Sohrabi M, Ghoshuni M. {{Perception of biological motions is preserved in people with autism spectrum disorder: electrophysiological and behavioural evidences}}. {Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR}. 2018.
BACKGROUND: There have been some controversies over the ability of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to perceive biological motion. In this study, we used electroencephalography and behavioural measures (recognition test) to examine whether or not children with ASD can correctly identify biological motion. METHOD: Twenty participants with ASD (mean = 11.3, SD = 2.1 years) and 20 typically developed (TD) participants (mean = 11.4, SD = 2.8 years) participated in the study. They watched videos and point light displays of actions, and their EEG was recorded. Then they answered action recognition test, and their accuracy and response times were recorded. RESULTS: Our findings showed that children with ASD had the same mu suppression as a TD age-matched control group in both point light display and video presentations. Furthermore, the results showed that while TD and ASD groups did not differ in accuracy, ASD participants had a slower reaction time. CONCLUSION: Taken together, our results indicate that the perception of non-emotional BMs is preserved in children with ASD.
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15. Stronach S, Wiegand S, Mentz E. {{Brief Report: Autism Knowledge and Stigma in University and Community Samples}}. {Journal of autism and developmental disorders}. 2018.
Increased public understanding of autism may lead to better access to services and participation in the community for individuals with autism. The goal of this study was to explore autism understanding and stigma among university students, and general community members recruited at a state fair. Participants between 18 and 79 years of age (n = 478) completed the Autism Stigma and Knowledge Questionnaire (ASK-Q; Harrison et al., Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 47(10):3281-3295, 2017). All ASK-Q means fell within the adequate knowledge range, indicating relatively high levels of autism knowledge and low levels of stigma. ASK-Q scores were correlated with gender, education, and self-ratings of understanding but not age. The results of this study suggest the need for continued inquiry into metrics that indicate autism understanding and stigma.
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16. Taylor BJ, Sanders KB, Kyle M, Pedersen KA, Veenstra-Vanderweele J, Siegel M. {{Inpatient Psychiatric Treatment of Serious Behavioral Problems in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Specialized Versus General Inpatient Units}}. {Journal of autism and developmental disorders}. 2018.
Psychiatric hospitalization of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is common, but there is little comparative information available on different psychiatric hospital treatment models. Children with ASD ages 4-20 were enrolled upon admission to either a specialized (N = 53) or a general child psychiatric unit (N = 27). Caregivers completed the Aberrant Behavioral Checklist-Irritability Sub-scale (ABC-I) at admission, discharge, and 2 months post-discharge and reported information on crisis service utilization 2 months post-discharge. Children treated in the specialized unit had lower ABC-I scores at discharge and 2 months post-discharge (F = 8.98, p = 0.003) and were significantly less likely to experience an ER visit within 2 months post-discharge (X(2) = 5.51, p = 0.019). Specialized inpatient units may be more effective for children with ASD in need of psychiatric hospitalization.
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17. Thirumanickam A, Raghavendra P, McMillan JM, van Steenbrugge W. {{Effectiveness of video-based modelling to facilitate conversational turn taking of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder who use AAC}}. {Augmentative and alternative communication (Baltimore, Md : 1985)}. 2018: 1-12.
This study evaluated and compared the effectiveness of packaged video modelling (VM) and video self-modelling (VSM) interventions to develop conversational behaviors with four adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who used augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). The study was conducted using an alternating treatments design nested within a multiple baseline design. The intervention effect was measured using Robust-Improvement Rate Difference (R-IRD). The results demonstrated that, overall, video-based modelling used in conjunction with a system of least prompts was effective in promoting conversation skills in adolescents with ASD who used AAC. Without the systematic instruction, R-IRD indicated that these techniques yielded only small to moderate intervention effects. The findings demonstrated the necessity of systematic instruction for this group of participants. This investigation provides preliminary evidence to support the use of packaged video-based modelling interventions to develop conversation skills in adolescents with ASD who use AAC systems.
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18. Waitara MS, Stuever M, Eiferman D, Steinberg S. {{Concomitant Fecal Impaction and Perforated Appendicitis in an Autistic Patient}}. {The American surgeon}. 2017; 83(12): e471-e3.
19. Welsh F, Najdowski AC, Strauss D, Gallegos L, Fullen JA. {{Teaching a perspective-taking component skill to children with autism in the natural environment}}. {Journal of applied behavior analysis}. 2018.
We evaluated procedures for teaching three children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder the perspective-taking component skill of tacting what others are sensing across all five senses: see, taste, feel, hear, and smell. Using a multiple baseline across participants design, we evaluated a training package consisting of multiple exemplar training, reinforcement, and error correction. The treatment package was implemented in the natural environment and was effective for teaching participants to tact what others sensed. Generalization across untrained stimuli and people was observed from baseline to posttraining for all participants. We discuss how this component skill may be related to teaching further skills related to perspective taking such as tacting what others know, predicting future behavior based upon one’s beliefs, and creating false beliefs in others for the purpose of adaptive deceptive behaviors such as keeping secrets, surprises, and bluffing during games.
